cleveland.com topics: pdiytag:topics.cleveland.com,2015:tag/pdiy2015-03-31T21:02:13ZMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance60-Second Know-It-All: Does Europe have potholes figured out?tag:www.cleveland.com,2015:/metro/index.ssf/8002316.155083672015-03-19T11:30:00Z2015-03-19T11:30:03ZThe upper Midwest's weak sand and clay wouldn't make an ideal bed for a superhighway carrying 18-wheelers no matter how many Euros you might be willing to spend.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
The upper Midwest's weak sand and clay wouldn't make an ideal bed for a superhighway carrying 18-wheelers no matter how many Euros you might be willing to spend.
PDIY: Get your first-aid kit ready for summer (video)tag:www.cleveland.com,2013:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.108563772013-07-03T18:32:00Z2013-07-03T18:49:41ZWhether you’re firing up the grill this holiday weekend, fiddling with some sort of fireworks (assuming you’re a licensed exhibitor) or simply enjoying whatever sunshine may show up — it’s the prime time for accidental burn injuries. And so it’s probably also a good time to update and restock your first-aid kit.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
Whether you’re firing up the grill this holiday weekend, fiddling with some sort of fireworks (assuming you’re a licensed exhibitor) or simply enjoying whatever sunshine may show up — it’s the prime time for accidental burn injuries. And so it’s probably also a good time to update and restock your first-aid kit.
PDIY: Springtime household pests arrive (video) tag:www.cleveland.com,2013:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.106961662013-06-05T21:00:00Z2013-06-05T21:15:01ZBill Kirchner — licensed entomologist (insect expert), owner of the Collinwood-based Cleveland Chemical Pest Control Service and past president of the Ohio Pest Management Association — spoke with PDIY about the most common bug invasions his company is asked to combat at this time of the year. William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
Bill Kirchner — licensed entomologist (insect expert), owner of the Collinwood-based Cleveland Chemical Pest Control Service and past president of the Ohio Pest Management Association — spoke with PDIY about the most common bug invasions his company is asked to combat at this time of the year.
PDIY: Springtime sprucing for the outdoor decktag:www.cleveland.com,2013:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.104701952013-05-02T15:38:15Z2013-05-02T16:21:48ZYour outdoor deck probably didn’t enjoy the winter a whole lot more than you did. Wear and tear. Aging, gray surface. Dirt and debris in the crevices. ... No, not you — your deck.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
Your outdoor deck probably didn’t enjoy the winter a whole lot more than you did. Wear and tear. Aging, gray surface. Dirt and debris in the crevices. ... No, not you — your deck.
PDIY: That bathroom needs recaulkingtag:www.cleveland.com,2013:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.103350722013-04-10T19:00:00Z2013-04-10T19:12:52ZYou’ve been staring at that bathroom caulk all winter, but it’s not until the bright, spring sunshine pours in that you notice how utterly disgusting it’s looking. Well, it’s a small and easy problem now. Wait until the really humid weather rolls in and it’ll be a lot tougher to fix.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
You’ve been staring at that bathroom caulk all winter, but it’s not until the bright, spring sunshine pours in that you notice how utterly disgusting it’s looking. Well, it’s a small and easy problem now. Wait until the really humid weather rolls in and it’ll be a lot tougher to fix.
PDIY: Maintaining your electric garage-door openertag:www.cleveland.com,2013:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.101281522013-03-06T21:00:00Z2013-03-06T21:02:43ZThe day your trusty garage-door opener decides to call it quits while you’re sitting in the driveway — or even worse, sitting in the garage trying to leave — you’ll taste the same betrayal astronaut David Bowman felt in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 classic, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” What do you mean, malfunction? This thing isn’t supposed to malfunction!William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
The day your trusty garage-door opener decides to call it quits while you’re sitting in the driveway — or even worse, sitting in the garage trying to leave — you’ll taste the same betrayal astronaut David Bowman felt in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 classic, “2001: A Space Odyssey.” What do you mean, malfunction? This thing isn’t supposed to malfunction!
PDIY: New furnace efficiency rules on the waytag:www.cleveland.com,2013:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.97546362013-01-09T22:00:00Z2013-01-10T15:44:39ZCome May 1, the Department of Energy will be implementing a comprehensive set of new regulations that will make installing a new furnace -- especially in an older home -- something of a challenge. An expensive challenge.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
Come May 1, the Department of Energy will be implementing a comprehensive set of new regulations that will make installing a new furnace -- especially in an older home -- something of a challenge. An expensive challenge.
Your Christmas tree: live, or artificial? Take our polltag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.96047142012-12-13T13:57:58Z2012-12-13T13:58:53ZAnd as PDIY says in today's Inside and Out section, holiday lights are just another electrical appliance and require care as much as any other appliance in your house -- especially when they're near a live Christmas tree. The danger of a spark or fire from a bulb is not as risky as it is with a live tree.
Plain Dealer staffhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/clevepd/index.html
And as PDIY says in today's Inside and Out section, holiday lights are just another electrical appliance and require care as much as any other appliance in your house -- especially when they're near a live Christmas tree. The danger of a spark or fire from a bulb is not as risky as it is with a live tree.
PDIY: Get your freezer ready for the holidaystag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.93298422012-11-01T11:41:26Z2012-11-01T11:47:01ZPDIY believes that with a spirit of experimentation and a little sound advice, even the most hardware-challenged homeowners can prolong the lives of their homes and household appliances.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
PDIY believes that with a spirit of experimentation and a little sound advice, even the most hardware-challenged homeowners can prolong the lives of their homes and household appliances.
PDIY: Time to check your water heatertag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.89976662012-09-13T10:00:08Z2012-09-12T22:03:00ZThe good news is, it's one of the easiest big-ticket appliances to maintain. So it's not too late to get reacquainted with it.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
The good news is, it's one of the easiest big-ticket appliances to maintain. So it's not too late to get reacquainted with it.
PDIY: Your window air conditioner may not be shot!tag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.86345862012-07-05T16:25:18Z2012-07-05T18:57:54ZYou've pulled the old window air conditioner unit out of basement storage and installed it in your window, only to realize -- just as the first really hot days of summer hit -- that the unit's basically just blowing hot air. William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
You've pulled the old window air conditioner unit out of basement storage and installed it in your window, only to realize -- just as the first really hot days of summer hit -- that the unit's basically just blowing hot air.
PDIY: Spruce up your outdoor grill! (First, take our poll)tag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.84138512012-06-06T19:03:16Z2012-06-07T17:59:23ZTime to give Old Crusty the once-over and then a little TLC to make grilling season go smoothly.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
Time to give Old Crusty the once-over and then a little TLC to make grilling season go smoothly.
Washing the winter from your windows: PDIYtag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.80564992012-04-05T14:39:15Z2012-04-05T15:06:58ZThe most important part of spring cleaning around the PDIY household is window cleaning. It’s only after we get five months’ worth of winter grime off that glass that it truly feels like spring — and in any case, only then can we see what else needs to be cleaned. The good news is, this job doesn’t need to be a back-breaker.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
The most important part of spring cleaning around the PDIY household is window cleaning. It’s only after we get five months’ worth of winter grime off that glass that it truly feels like spring — and in any case, only then can we see what else needs to be cleaned. The good news is, this job doesn’t need to be a back-breaker.
PDIY: Managing moisture in your basement tag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.78236472012-02-29T20:59:57Z2012-02-29T22:25:30ZAs Northeast Ohioans, we live near a lot of water. It’s just a fact of life that water’s constantly trying to get into our basements — and rainy springtime is often the time it succeeds. Can you win the basement-water war without spending a fortune?William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
As Northeast Ohioans, we live near a lot of water. It’s just a fact of life that water’s constantly trying to get into our basements — and rainy springtime is often the time it succeeds. Can you win the basement-water war without spending a fortune?
PDIY: Maintain your snowblower even in snow-free wintertag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.77014382012-02-08T19:22:33Z2012-02-08T20:17:17ZWhile we haven’t had a lot of snow so far this winter, it’s never a good idea to bet against Mother Nature — especially in Northeast Ohio. The smart homeowner will use this respite to get out there and make sure the snowblower’s ready when you do need it.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
While we haven’t had a lot of snow so far this winter, it’s never a good idea to bet against Mother Nature — especially in Northeast Ohio. The smart homeowner will use this respite to get out there and make sure the snowblower’s ready when you do need it.
PDIY home maintenance: Ice dams can wreck your rooftag:www.cleveland.com,2012:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.7521208.201201051214402012-01-05T15:25:47Z2012-01-05T17:14:40ZIce dams — those huge accretions of ice and snow that pile up on your gutters and hang down as huge icicles — can wreck your gutters and let water in through your roof. The time to get a jump on them is now.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
Ice dams — those huge accretions of ice and snow that pile up on your gutters and hang down as huge icicles — can wreck your gutters and let water in through your roof. The time to get a jump on them is now.
PDIY: Maintenance and care of kitchen garbage disposerstag:www.cleveland.com,2011:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.7291308.201111161845382011-11-16T21:00:00Z2011-11-16T23:45:38ZYour kitchen garbage disposer does have its limits. With the heavy holiday cooking season upon us, it's wise to learn what that thing can and can't do, and how you can help it.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
Your kitchen garbage disposer does have its limits. With the heavy holiday cooking season upon us, it's wise to learn what that thing can and can't do, and how you can help it.
PDIY home maintenance: Getting your fireplace ready for wintertag:www.cleveland.com,2011:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.7185785.201110261654002011-10-26T19:56:22Z2011-10-26T20:54:00ZThere's no substitute for having a professional take an annual look at your wood-burning fireplace, but there are lots of things you can do yourself to help get it ready for the cold weather.William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
There's no substitute for having a professional take an annual look at your wood-burning fireplace, but there are lots of things you can do yourself to help get it ready for the cold weather.
PDIY home maintenance: Yes, you can* fix that toilet!tag:www.cleveland.com,2011:/insideout/index.ssf//3725.7037070.201109281333172011-09-28T18:00:02Z2011-09-28T17:33:17ZIn the first of our do-it-yourself home-maintenance features, we tackled the toilet: More than most household appliances, we want them to be there for us when we need them, and any other time, they’re the last thing we want to think about. William Neff, The Plain Dealerhttp://connect.cleveland.com/user/wneff/index.html
In the first of our do-it-yourself home-maintenance features, we tackled the toilet: More than most household appliances, we want them to be there for us when we need them, and any other time, they’re the last thing we want to think about.